Hearing Voices and Seeing Things
Children often hear or see things that may scare or upset them. The wind at night, a creak
in the house, or a shadow on the wall may feel frightening, especially for younger
children. At times, children may imagine that they hear or see things as part of a game or
as a result of their worries and fears. Younger children may even have an imaginary
friend they want to sit next to at the table and have conversations with. These examples
are usually just part of the normal growth of a child. They can most often be managed
with understanding and gentle reassurance on the part of parents.
Hallucinations are when one has heard, seen or experienced something that is not there.
They can occur in any of our senses including sound, sight, touch, taste and smell. An
auditory hallucination is when one has heard something that is not there. It is the most
common type of hallucination. A visual hallucination is when one has seen something
that is not there. Hallucinations may occur as part of normal development or may be a
sign that your child is struggling with some type of emotional problems. This may be
related to issues at home, school, with friends, or from experiencing upsetting thoughts
and feelings.
In some cases hallucinations may occur as a sign of a psychiatric illness such as a
psychosis, or other serious medical problems. Psychotic disorders in children, while not
common, are serious and severely interfere with a child’s thinking and functioning.
Children who are psychotic often appear confused and agitated. They also may have
disorganized speech, thinking, emotional reactions, and behavior, sometimes
accompanied by hallucinations or delusions (a fixed, false and often bizarre belief).
Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there can be a part of normal development
but they may also happen as a result of the following:
• When a youngster is under severe emotional stress
Children coping with the death of a parent or dealing with lots of stressors in their
lives will sometimes hear voices or see things.
• Certain physical illnesses
Examples may include migraines, seizures, infections, a very high fever, and
problems with the thyroid or adrenal glands.
• Adverse effects of medication
The use of certain medications, such as steroids or pain medicine, can cause
hallucinations under rare circumstances. Many other medications can also lead to
hallucinations when used in higher doses than prescribed or recommended. Illegal
drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine and LSD are a frequent
cause of hallucinations. • Nonpsychotic psychiatric illnesses
Children who hear voices telling them to do bad things often have behavior
problems. Voices that refer to suicide or dying may occur in children who are
depressed. The content of a hallucination may help us understand what type of
illness a child is having. Children who see things that are not there may be very
anxious or depressed.
• Psychotic illnesses
This includes schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic features,
and bipolar disorder. In addition to hallucinations, psychotic illnesses are
characterized by delusions, disorganized and/or bizarre behavior and moods that
don’t correspond with what is going on in someone’s life. Children may show
social withdrawal, and inappropriate and unusual use of language. Looking for
these symptoms can be very helpful in telling the difference between psychotic
and nonpsychotic illnesses.
What should you do if you are worried about your child hearing voices or seeing things?
Talk to your child and try to clarify what he is experiencing. Consider how your child is
doing in all areas of his life such as at school, with friends, in the neighborhood, and with
family. Any child with disordered thinking or behavior should be evaluated immediately.
If you are concerned, speak with your family physician or pediatrician. They may be
able to help or will be able to refer you to a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is
trained to evaluate, diagnose and treat children with emotional and behavior problems.
Quazi Imam, M.D.
Board Certified in Psychiatry.
Board Certified in Addiction Psychiatry.
Board Certified in Geriatric Psychiatry.
Board Certified in Forensic Psychiatry.
Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry,Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist,Harvard Medical School Trained.
1833 W. Pioneer Parkway Tel: 682-323-4566
Arlington, Texas 76013
Children often hear or see things that may scare or upset them. The wind at night, a creak
in the house, or a shadow on the wall may feel frightening, especially for younger
children. At times, children may imagine that they hear or see things as part of a game or
as a result of their worries and fears. Younger children may even have an imaginary
friend they want to sit next to at the table and have conversations with. These examples
are usually just part of the normal growth of a child. They can most often be managed
with understanding and gentle reassurance on the part of parents.
Hallucinations are when one has heard, seen or experienced something that is not there.
They can occur in any of our senses including sound, sight, touch, taste and smell. An
auditory hallucination is when one has heard something that is not there. It is the most
common type of hallucination. A visual hallucination is when one has seen something
that is not there. Hallucinations may occur as part of normal development or may be a
sign that your child is struggling with some type of emotional problems. This may be
related to issues at home, school, with friends, or from experiencing upsetting thoughts
and feelings.
In some cases hallucinations may occur as a sign of a psychiatric illness such as a
psychosis, or other serious medical problems. Psychotic disorders in children, while not
common, are serious and severely interfere with a child’s thinking and functioning.
Children who are psychotic often appear confused and agitated. They also may have
disorganized speech, thinking, emotional reactions, and behavior, sometimes
accompanied by hallucinations or delusions (a fixed, false and often bizarre belief).
Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there can be a part of normal development
but they may also happen as a result of the following:
• When a youngster is under severe emotional stress
Children coping with the death of a parent or dealing with lots of stressors in their
lives will sometimes hear voices or see things.
• Certain physical illnesses
Examples may include migraines, seizures, infections, a very high fever, and
problems with the thyroid or adrenal glands.
• Adverse effects of medication
The use of certain medications, such as steroids or pain medicine, can cause
hallucinations under rare circumstances. Many other medications can also lead to
hallucinations when used in higher doses than prescribed or recommended. Illegal
drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine and LSD are a frequent
cause of hallucinations. • Nonpsychotic psychiatric illnesses
Children who hear voices telling them to do bad things often have behavior
problems. Voices that refer to suicide or dying may occur in children who are
depressed. The content of a hallucination may help us understand what type of
illness a child is having. Children who see things that are not there may be very
anxious or depressed.
• Psychotic illnesses
This includes schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic features,
and bipolar disorder. In addition to hallucinations, psychotic illnesses are
characterized by delusions, disorganized and/or bizarre behavior and moods that
don’t correspond with what is going on in someone’s life. Children may show
social withdrawal, and inappropriate and unusual use of language. Looking for
these symptoms can be very helpful in telling the difference between psychotic
and nonpsychotic illnesses.
What should you do if you are worried about your child hearing voices or seeing things?
Talk to your child and try to clarify what he is experiencing. Consider how your child is
doing in all areas of his life such as at school, with friends, in the neighborhood, and with
family. Any child with disordered thinking or behavior should be evaluated immediately.
If you are concerned, speak with your family physician or pediatrician. They may be
able to help or will be able to refer you to a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is
trained to evaluate, diagnose and treat children with emotional and behavior problems.
Quazi Imam, M.D.
Board Certified in Psychiatry.
Board Certified in Addiction Psychiatry.
Board Certified in Geriatric Psychiatry.
Board Certified in Forensic Psychiatry.
Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry,Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist,Harvard Medical School Trained.
1833 W. Pioneer Parkway Tel: 682-323-4566
Arlington, Texas 76013